Autumn Internationals: Opta's team of the series
During the autumn internationals, South Africa maintained its dominance with a perfect record, while England capitalized on their momentum, winning all four matches to rise in the world rankings. The mixed results across the Six Nations saw Australia struggling, finishing winless for the first time in 67 years. Individual performances stood out, with players like Will Jordan and Ben Earl earning spots in Opta's team of the autumn based on their impressive statistics. Looking ahead, the outcomes of these matches and performances may shape strategies for the upcoming Rugby World Cup draw, emphasizing the importance of individual and team dynamics in future competitions.
Dive Deeper:
South Africa solidified their number one ranking by winning all matches in the autumn internationals, with a final game against Cardiff pending.
England extended their winning streak to 11 matches and climbed to third in the world rankings, narrowly defeating Argentina in their final match.
Australia's performance was notably poor, finishing their European tour without a win for the first time in 67 years, while Rugby Championship teams won 57% of their matches against Six Nations teams.
Will Jordan, despite not being at his best, was recognized as the top full-back, scoring tries and making significant line breaks throughout the month.
Ben Earl led all players in November with the most total carries (60) and showed strong defensive capabilities, making eight dominant tackles.